Post-traumatic stress disorder, more often simply called PTSD, is a disorder that can keep traumatic experiences present as part of day-to-day life for years to come. Without appropriately processing a traumatic experience, its aftermath can negatively affect relationships, career, and even the ability to complete your day-to-day activities. On this page, you can learn more about how therapy helps in the process of healing trauma and what to expect from working with our team of caring clinicians.

What Is Trauma? 

Trauma is any event or set of experiences that overwhelms a person’s ability to process the situation in safe, healthy ways. A traumatic injury can occur after one overwhelming event or due to numerous, smaller traumas. When these traumatic events occur, the brain responds by triggering a fight, flight, or freeze response in the moment. For some, this response is alleviated once the trauma is resolved. Others may struggle to turn off this response, which can lead to prolonged side effects and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

What Is PTSD? 

PTSD can develop after trauma when the wound inflicted by the traumatic experience isn’t healed. The side effects of these experiences can become more intense and adversely impact daily life until the individual process and heals the traumatic injury.

What Are the Effects of PTSD? 

If you’ve been struggling to fully recover after a traumatic experience, it’s important to be vigilant of warning signs related to PTSD, including: 

• Flashbacks – traumatic experiences feel like they are happening again. 

• Nightmares – may be about the events themselves or just generally upsetting dreams. 

• Detachment – difficulty bonding with others or withdrawing from loved ones. 

• Disinterest – loss of interest or enjoyment in favorite activities. 

• Avoidance – staying away from any reminders of a traumatic experience. 

• Self-destruction – impulsivity, promiscuity, self-harming, substance, and other self-destructive behavior use may be used to cope with the effects of PTSD. 

• Irritability – mood swings, short temper, and changes in emotions. 

• Vigilance – being hyper focused, worried, or paranoid.

• Physical effects – elevated heart rate, difficulty breathing, trembling, and sweating are common.

Can Therapy Help? 

Participating in psychotherapy on a regular basis is a beneficial way to process the adverse effects of trauma and PTSD. During your initial session, we’ll discuss any side effects you’re facing and develop a plan to utilize evidence-based therapy techniques to start resolving symptoms and healing traumatic wounds. While the specific therapy technique will vary, the important thing is to begin refocusing on the present. Trauma keeps us trapped in a painful experience. It robs us of joy in the moment. Participating in psychotherapy may help you to break free from these effects and start to reclaim your satisfaction in daily life. 

Reach Out to Schedule a Session

If you’ve been struggling with the short or long-term effects of trauma every day, we hope you’ll reach out, so we can work together to process these traumatic experiences. We understand that therapy may seem like just one more way that you could be forced to relive your trauma, but the way that we explore the upsetting events together helps to alleviate the adverse effects. Learn more by calling (415) 794-4377, emailing drbrooke@emerginginsightspsych.com, or by scheduling a consultation online.